Label dictionary

All information from A to Z

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  • a

  • Abrasion resistance

    Indicates the mechanical resistance of a label surface, depending on its nature, the type of friction surface, the scrubbing pressure and the duration of the strain.

  • Acetate

    Is an artificial silk for textile labeling e.g. mattresses.

  • Acrylic adhesive

    Very transparent adhesive with good resistance to UV radiation and higher temperatures. Acrylic adhesives usually have a lower initial adhesion than rubber adhesives.

  • Adhesion

    Description for the sticking together of two different materials or the interaction of an adhesive with the substrate to be bonded.

  • Adhesive bond

    The connection of the three basic elements, the upper layer, the adhesive layer and the carrier material, results in the self-adhesive label, which is also referred to as an adhesive bond by the manufacturers. (WdE)

  • Adhesive film

    The film adheres without adhesive due to adhesion on perfectly smooth surfaces (e.g., glass, painted metal)

  • Adhesive residue

    Adhesive that remains on a substrate when the label is removed.

  • Aluminium foil

    Either a thin aluminium foil laminated to a paper or a pure aluminum foil. Used as an upper material for self-adhesive products.

  • Ambient conditions

    Temperature and humidity conditions in ambient air. (WdE)

  • b

  • Barcode

    Representation of numbers (e.g., article numbers) in a bar system suitable for direct reading into a computer.

  • Bleed-Boarder

    The bleed boarder system prevents the leakage of adhesive particles during the printing process, thus protecting the mechanical parts such as the drum and pressure rollers from contamination by adhesive deposits.

  • Bleeding

    The pressure and type image appears uneven when the printing ink bleeds along the paper fibers (especially at the edges).

  • Blind embossing

    For the embossing of logos or grooves in complex products. Contours and shapes can be positively embossed in the paper.

  • Book print

    Printing technology, which belongs to the high-printing processes, since the printing parts of the printing form are elevated. (see printing methods)

  • Butterfly effect

    Undesirable detachment of the label corners from the glued surface.

  • c

  • Carrier material

    Refer to cover paper

  • Cast-coated paper

    Paper quality with a particularly high gloss, which is achieved by smoothing the pigment coating with a chromium-plated dry cylinder. (WdE)

  • CF coating

    A chemical coating of the paper in order to achieve a copyability in the paper.

  • Chromo paper

    A paper type which, by application of a coating compound, gets a high-gloss to matte surface, so that it is suitable for high-quality multi-color printing.

  • CMYK

    English description of the four basic colors in four-color printing. Also known as Euroscale.
    Where: C= Cyan, M= Magenta, Y= Yellow, K= Black

  • Coated paper

    Paper quality in which the surface to be printed is covered with a white or colored pigment coating. (WdE)

  • Coating

    By applying a varnish layer, the labels receive a protective and/or more decorative gloss coating. (WdE)

  • Cohesion

    Internal strength of an adhesive.

  • Cold fixation

    This is done by the means of a laser printing system (e.g., Siemens ND3) that works similar to the hot fixing system. The difference is the last step of the work process.

  • Cold flow

    The flowability of the adhesive at room temperature under pressure and strain.

  • Cold glue

    Adhesive which ensures the good adhesion of a self-adhesive label on a cold substrate.

  • Colour fastness

    Property of a material to retain its original color even under external influences.

  • Computer label

    Self-adhesive label intended for printing and processing in computer printers.

  • Contact adhesive

    Adhesive type, which is actively self-adhesive in contrast to wet adhesives. Sticks at room temperature by simple contact.

  • Corner peeling

    Undesirable detachment of the label corners from the segregation material.

  • Corona treatment

    An electronic process for plastic films, in which the film web is passed over a grounded metal roll to a so called spraying electrode (creation of polar structure). The film can now be printed, the color is sticks to the label.

  • Cover paper

    Part of the adhesive bond which carries the self-adhesive material. A silicone coating is usually applied as a separating layer so that the label can be easily peeled off the carrier. (WdE)

  • d

  • Delamination

    Detaching a material in layers in a direction parallel to the surface; e.g. Separation of a self-adhesive top material from the release paper into the printing machine.

  • Dimension stability

    Behavior of the material with respect to the constancy of its dimensions in terms of length and width under influences such as temperature, humidity, solvents or the like.

  • Direct thermal printing

    In thermal direct printing, the heat pulses from the thermal head are transferred to a thermoreactive paper. They trigger a chemical color reaction in the special thermal layer of the bonding compound. (see printing methods) (WdE)

  • Dispenser

    Device for automatic or manual labelling.

  • Dispersion

    A substance system in which a substance is distributed in the finest form in a dispersant. In practice, aqueous dispersions are frequently used in form of lacquer, adhesives or paints. (WdE)

  • e

  • Embossing

    A method by which a printed image can be raised or recessed (relief-like).

  • Emulsion

    An emulsion is a dispersion in which a liquid is distributed in the form of very fine droplets in another liquid which is not miscible with it. Oil-in-water emulsions are often used in coating processes. (WdE)

  • Euroscale

    see CMYK

  • Evenness

    Description of the position of the sheet on the printing table. 100% evenness: The arc is uniformly distributed on the ground, all points of the material surface are in one plane.

  • f

  • Fading

    Reduction in color brilliance, often caused by prolonged exposure to UV radiation.

  • Final adhesion

    The final adhesive force reached by the adhesive layer of a label to the surface of a body under defined real conditions.

  • Fitter

    Perfectly superimposed printing of individual colors in the multi-color printing or the fitting punching of the printed labels. (WdE)

  • Flexo print

    "Rotary relief printing method", formerly called "flexographic printing", in which flexible printing plates and fast-drying, low-viscosity printing inks are used. (see printing methods).

  • Fluorescence

    (For a detailed explanation see luminescence) For fluorescence, the light is radiated within 10 to the power of minus 7 to 70 to the power of minus 10 seconds Varnish: Collective term for non-pigmented coatings such as lacquers.

  • Full-tone colour

    Special or decorative colors which are not produced from a four-color scale (CMYK) and are combined in a color fan such as e.g. HKS, Pantone or RAL.

  • g

  • Glassine

    English: Glassine = Pergamine (see carrier material)

  • Grain/stains

    Uneven coloring or coating of upper materials, uneven print image of a label.

  • Gravure printing

    Printing method in which the printing elements are recessed (engraved, etched) in the printing cylinder. (see printing methods)

  • Grid

    Uniform division of an area in lines or points.

  • Gripper edge

    An 8 to 10 mm wide edge on one side of the sheet along which the sheet is guided by the grippers in the following offset impression.

  • h

  • Hologram

    (Greek holos for complete, full, gramma for dispatch, message, sign) is a photographic picture, usually produced by means of coherent laser light, which, after elaboration and illumination, reproduces with a similar light a real three-dimensional image of the original object. The term 1947 was created by the Hungarian researcher Dennis Gábor, who sought a way to improve electron microscopes. The motifs appear to float freely in the room when looked at. In the case of lateral movements, an object can also be seen and a completely three-dimensional impression is produced in the case of two-eyed view.

  • Hot embossing

    Printing process in which the metallic glossy printed image is transferred by using special pigments under heat and pressure from a special film to the material to be printed.

  • Hot fusion process

    Happens in the laser printing system and in dry copying machines, which work according to the electro-photographic printing principle.

  • Hot-melt glue

    A synthetic rubber adhesive in which all components are liquefied and mixed by heating.

  • i

  • ICC

    Stands for "International Color Consortium", an association of manufacturers of printing machines and DTP software. The ICC has set itself the goal of simplifying the working with colors in the graphic arts industry.

  • ICC profile

    (synonymous term: color profile) is a standardized data set which maps the color space of a color input or color rendering device, such as monitor, printer, scanner, etc. The goal of a consistently used color management is that an original, which has been recorded with any input device, is reproduced as similar as possible by any output device.

  • IMDS

    International Material Data System. In order to meet the end-of-life vehicle regulation, which describes a 95% recyclability starting from 2005, well-known automobile groups have jointly developed the IMDS. There, the suppliers archive all materials used in vehicle construction and provide these contents to their customers via internet. Labels also belong to these materials. Thus, the composition is traceable, enabling an optimal recycling process.

  • Initial adhesion

    See Tack

  • Inkjet

    Inkjet or inkjet printers use special inkjet inks that are sprayed onto the carrier material through nozzles. (see printing methods) (WdE)

  • Inmould

    Some products of the food industry are packaged in containers made of thermoformed plastic film. This method requires a mould into which the film is drawn in the thermoformable state. After cooling, the film forms the mould.

  • Inmould labelling

    means that the labelling process takes place during the molding process. For this purpose, printed film sections are previously inserted into the thermoformed mould. During the formation of the container, the container and the label are firmly joined together. A permanent and no longer detachable decoration of the container has been created. One advantage is the high resistance of the decoration, which is especially important for frozen food with high exposure to condensed moisture.

  • ISO 9000

    International standard for quality management systems.

  • l

  • Lamination

    Applying a transparent film to the surface, e.g. of a label to provide additional protection and appearance.

  • Laser print

    Non-impact printing process with hot or cold fixation.

  • Lattice/Lattice printing

    Unused upper material, including the adhesive of a self-adhesive construction surrounding the stamped label, is usually removed after printing and punching out of the label to allow an automatic dispensing of the labels.

  • Leporello folding

    Folding method for depositing long sheets of paper or film in zigzag form in stacks (instead of wrapping on rolls). Applied for e.g. labels used in the IT sector (computer labels). Refer to zigzag folding. The term comes from the name of the servant from the opera Don Giovanni, who has folded a list of lovers in zigzag form.

  • Luminescence colour

    A transparent ink that becomes visible under UV light.

  • m

  • Machine coated paper

    A paper for which the surface refinement has been made with a coating in the paper machine.

  • Machine direction

    A specification commonly used for papers which refers to the orientation of the paper fibers being parallel to the motion direction of the paper machine. It is particularly important for the printing and processing processes during the label production.

  • Matrix print

    Matrix printers (impact printers) are generally referred to as needle printers. The print is applied to the substrate via small needles. (see printing methods)

  • Metallized/aluminium-vaporized foils/papers

    Plastic films or papers which have been provided with a very thin metal/aluminium layer by a vacuum evaporation process on one side.

  • n

  • Natural rubber adhesive

    Adhesive based on natural rubber. Usually is a solvent adhesive with a broad range of applications.

  • Needle-/Matrix print(er)

    The mechanical "embossing" of the printing ink contained in the ink ribbons ensures a particularly good anchoring to the label surface. (WdE)

  • No-Label-Look

    Labelling of packaging containers with materials as transparent as possible. This gives the impression of a direct print (WdE). It should be noted that due to the required high transparency, a transparent PET film is taken as a liner.

  • Numbering

    Continuous numbering (imprinting) of labels by mechanical or non-impact printing processes.

  • o

  • Offset print

    Flat printing method, in which the material to be printed is indirectly printed from the printing plate via a rubber blanket. (see printing methods)

  • Opacity

    Opacity of a material.

  • p

  • Perforation

    Punching line for better tearing or folding of labels. The tear strength depends on the cut – bridge ratio.

  • Permanent adhesive

    Permanent adhesive with relatively high final adhesion. It adheres firmly to most surfaces and can therefore usually not be removed undamaged.

  • Piggyback

    Description for a sandwich composite.

  • Placeholder labels

    These are labels which have a siliconized surface. This is used to glue other labels and remove them residue-free. The possible use is the gluing on transport crates so that the logistics labels can be removed without residue after their use.

  • Plant labels

    are primarily used in the plant sector. These are non-glued plastic plugs which are made of sturdy PVC. The ends of these labels have tips so that they can later be placed in the beds or pots to the plants. With the help of a perforation between the labels, one can offer these "plugs" in roll form. Subsequent printing with a label printer and corresponding transfer film is therefore possible.

  • Plasticiser

    Substance added to some plastics, mainly PVC, to achieve flexibility, moldability and extensibility.

  • Polyester (PET) film

    High quality synthetic film with very good resistance to solvents, oils and many chemicals.

  • Polyethylene (PE) film

    Polyolefin film, is regarded as an environmentally-friendly PVC alternative, since only carbon dioxide and water are released when burning. Permits mono-fraction recycling.

  • Polymer

    Compound of many small molecules (monomers) to a very large molecule, chemical basis of all materials called plastics.

  • Polypropylene (PP) film

    Properties are similar to those of polyethylene, but the material is stronger and stiffer. Aligned, meaning, stretched polypropylene is extremely dimension stable.

  • Polystyrene (PS) film

    In contrast to the other films, polystyrene films have a higher hardness and stiffness. They can be supplied in both clear and white.

  • Primer

    Coating to improve the adhesion of an adhesive or ink to upper materials.

  • Printing processes
    • Book print: Printing technology, which is one of the high-printing processes, since the printing parts of the printing form are increased. (WdE)
    • Flexo print: "Rotary relief printing method", formerly called "flexographic printing", in which flexible printing plates and fast-drying, low-viscosity printing inks are used.
    • Inkjet: Inkjet or inkjet printers use special inkjet inks that are sprayed onto the carrier material through nozzles. (WdE)
    • Matrix (needle) print: Matrix printers (impact printers) are generally referred to as needle printers. The print is applied to the substrate via small needles. The mechanical "embossing" of the printing ink contained in the ink ribbons ensures a particularly good anchoring to the label surface.
    • Offset print: Flat printing process, in which the material to be printed is indirectly printed from the printing plate via a rubber blanket.
    • Screen print: Printing method, in which the ink is pressed onto the to-be-printed material by means of a fine-meshed fabric.
    • Direct thermal printing: In thermal direct printing, the heat pulses from the thermal head are transferred to a thermoreactive paper. They trigger a chemical color reaction in the special thermal layer of the bonding compound.
    • Thermal transfer printing: The thermal transfer printing uses transfer films coated with paint. This color layer is transferred by the heat effect of a heating element. A special feature of the thermal transfer printing is therefore the laminar ink application, which results in a high-resolution printing quality.
    • Gravure printing: Printing method in which the printing elements are recessed (engraved, etched) in the printing cylinder.
    • Duplex: Description for a sandwich composite.

  • Punching

    The cutting or punching of labels with a strip steel cut or a rotary punch.

  • Punching plate

    Flexible punching plate for the use on magnetic cylinders, magnetic foundations or other special devices.

  • PVC (Polyvinylchloride) film

    Flexible and durable plastic film with good weather and chemical resistance. The foil is available in shining, matt, transparent and pigmented versions.

  • r

  • RAL, Pantone, HKS

    Frequently used special colors, which have been summarized in these color scales.

  • Release

    The release value is determined in particular by the adhesive and the siliconization. Especially in the case of mechanical dispensing of the labels, a more easily adjusted degree of rejection has proven itself useful in the past. It is rated as the separation force required to peel off the silicone paper behind the adhesive-coated upper material.

  • Remaliner

    Edge perforation (transport perforation) in the carrier material. (see hole edge labels)

  • Removability

    In the case of self-adhesive labels, the condition under which the labels can be detached from a substrate.

  • Removable adhesive

    Self-adhesive with relatively low final adhesion. Sticks firmly to the glued surface, but can be removed again within a shorter period of time.

  • Repeats

    Number of labels on a sheet or print form.

  • Repellency grade/separation force/release

    The repellency grade is in particular determined by the adhesive and siliconization. Especially in the case of mechanical dispensing of the labels, a more easily adjusted degree of rejection has proven itself useful in the past. It is rated as the separation force required to peel off the silicone paper behind the adhesive-coated upper material.

  • Resistance against solvents

    Resistance of a material, e.g. a self-adhesive label, to the dissolving effect of certain organic solutions.

  • RFID

    The English term radio frequency identification (RFID) means in German the identification with the help of electromagnetic waves. RFID is a process for the automatic identification of objects and living beings. In addition to the non-contact identification and the localization of objects, RFID is also used for the automatic collection and storage of data.

  • Rotary punching tool

    All the tools which are used for punching in the label printing machines are designated as a rotary punching tool.

  • s

  • Sandwich composite

    Three-layer self-adhesive construction, in which, after gluing the two upper layers, the uppermost label can be peeled off and glued once again.

  • Screen print

    Printing method, in which the ink is pressed onto the material to be printed by means of a fine-meshed fabric. (see printing methods)

  • Security label

    Counterfeit-proof label – a term for a variety of different labels that, due to their special properties, serve theft protection or make products more counterfeit-proof.

  • Separation layer

    Coating which is applied to the carrier material in order to enable the simple separation of pressure-sensitive adhesives. (WdE)

  • Shear strength

    The resistance of a pressure sensitive adhesive against static load (weight) in the plane of the label material.

  • Silicone paper

    Silicone coated material. It ensures that the labels as well as the grid can be easily removed.

  • Sleeves

    Sleeves are tube sections made of stretchy or shrinkable plastic film. There are stretch sleeves and shrink sleeves. The plastic film can be printed on the outside or in the case of transparent films on the inside. The film section is then slipped over the bottle body. If the previously produced stress state (stretch sleeves) is degraded, or the tube shrunk due to the heat (shrink sleeves) of hot air or steam, the film adheres firmly to the bottle body at the end of the respective process.

  • Smear resistance

    Resistance of a freshly printed ink on paper or film surfaces against blurring or smearing.

  • Split

    At a concrete distance (depending on the adhesive 3.1 and 5 cm, respectively), the cover paper is scored or slightly slit. This split is later used as a pull-off aid for adhesive labels.

  • Split-back

    (also cover paper split): see Split.

  • Stringing

    Can occur with the (old) adhesive when a label is peeled off a substrate.

  • Surface tension

    The electrical charge (flame, corona pretreatment) generated by an appropriate pretreatment on plastic surfaces.

  • Synthetic rubber adhesive

    Adhesive based on synthetic rubber. The adhesive can be processed as a solvent, dispersion and hotmelt adhesive.

  • t

  • Tack

    (Actually: Initial tack, for initial adhesion) Adhesive force of a label that has been applied to a surface without applying pressure.

  • Tags

    Meaning hang tags.

  • TCF

    (Total Chlorine Free) without the use of chlorine bleached pulps. The pulp bleaching with chlorine leads to a pollution of the water.

  • Tear resistance

    The force measured in a tensile test in which a sample ruptures. It is dependent on the thickness of the sample and is measured in N/mm².

  • Tensile strength

    Property of a material to withstand a pulling force. It is usually defined as the force which must be applied parallel to the plane of the material until it leads to its fracture under specified conditions. (WdE)

  • Thermal transfer printing

    The thermal transfer printing uses transfer films coated with paint. This color layer is transferred by the heat effect of a heating element. A special feature of the thermal transfer printing is therefore the laminar ink application, which results in a high-resolution printing quality (see printing methods) (WdE)

  • Thermochromic printing inks

    Are printing inks that change the hue at temperature effects or change from visible to invisible reversibly under temperature.

  • Tickets

    Such as entrance tickets, ski passes etc. Packaging on roll or zig-zag folding.

  • Transparency

    Measure of the light transmittance of a sample.

  • Tyvek

    Polyethylene fiber fleece (PE fibers are pressed under heat) combines some of the best properties of paper, textile fibers and film.

  • u

  • Upper material

    Substrate which is coated with an adhesive and is later printed and glued. It can consist of different materials such as paper, film, etc.

  • UV coating

    A protective varnish which reduces the pressure from abrasion and external influences such as e.g. chemical substances. The UV coating does not protect the print against UV radiation. UV only means that the coating is cured with UV radiation in the printing machine.

  • UV resistance

    Resistance of a self-adhesive label against UV light (sunlight), curing of the adhesive, severe discolouring or weathering.

  • v

  • VIP labels

    (Variable Information Printing). The term encompasses all labels which are subsequently printed with variable data, e.g. via thermal transfer or laser printing systems.

  • w

  • Waste grid

    Label material that surrounds the actual self-adhesive label; is usually removed after the punching process. (WdE)

  • Water-removable adhesive

    Adhesive type, which loses its adhesive force when exposed to water and is thus peelable. (WdE)

  • Water-soluble adhesive

    Type of adhesive that completely dissolves in water. (WdE)

  • Weather resistance

    Ability of an externally bonded label to resist the influences of water, sunlight, varying temperatures and humidity.

  • Web width

    The maximum processable width of the material web in a production machine. (WdE)

  • WILS

    The WILS system has been developed as a suitable alternative to conventional duplex or sandwich labels. In this case, the label is not dispensed, but is integrated into the paper sheet as a punched element.

  • Winding direction

    Refer to machine direction

  • z

  • Zigzag folding (folded in layers)

    Folding method for depositing long sheets of paper or film in zigzag form in stacks (instead of wrapping on rolls). Applied for e.g. labels used in the IT sector (computer labels).